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FSU celebrates no-tobacco policy on the field at Doak

Florida State University campus went completely tobacco-free Jan. 1, and officials are encouraging students and other members of the university community to celebrate the health-focused policy change 7 p.m. Thursday on the field of Doak Campbell Stadium.

“Compliance is highly associated with awareness,” said Kevin Frentz, FSU’s healthy promotion and policy coordinator. “This isn’t anti-smoking, this is pro-health. This is for the health and wellbeing of the campus community.”

FSU’s Board of Trustees passed the anti-tobacco policy in March. Tobacco is the No. 1 cause of preventable disease and death and second-hand smoke can be a serious problem for people with a host of other health issues.

The move, however, is not intended to be punitive, Frentz said. The no-smoking policy is not enforced through fines or other sanctions. Rather, the university is creating a new community standard and a tobacco-free campus expectation.

“This is a culture change,” he said. “We are de-normalizing smoking and that takes a while.”

Attitudes, however, are changing. A survey conducted last year by the FSU’s Student Government Association found 76.5 percent of students supported tobacco-free policies. In 1999, Frentz said just 40 percent of students supported such policies.

Smoking by students also has dramatically decreased. In a health assessment last spring 12.4 percent of FSU students reported smoking sometime in the last 30 days. About 15 years ago, that rate was more than 30 percent.

“(Students) are becoming more and more insistent they have clean air to breathe,” he said.

At Thursday’s event, participants will lift up cards that together create a 40-foot by 40-foot sign of the university’s “Tobacco Free FSU” slogan. Doors open at 6:30. Attendees should enter through Gate X at University Center B by the “Unconquered” statue. Officials are hoping at least 300 people turn out.

To sign up in advance, email tobaccofreefsu@fsu.edu. For questions, call Frentz at 644-8871.